Tuesday, April 16, 2024
4/16/2024
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is submitting an application in response to CDC’s funding opportunity CDC-RFA-DP20-2002 to strategically focus and partner with health systems and clinics to achieve increased clinic-level colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. CDPHE and partners across Colorado have been committed to collaboratively increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates for over 20 years. Efforts have succeeded in raising the proportion of eligible adults (age 50-75) who fully meet the United States Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for a CRC screening test to 69 percent. Colorado’s overall CRC screening rates increased 5 percent since 2012, and it ranks 21st nationally for CRC screening adherence. Nevertheless, substantial work remains. Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of death from cancer in Colorado and the third most common cancer for men and women. Disparities in Colorado’s CRC screening rates continue to exist among rural, uninsured and minority populations. It is estimated that 500,000 eligible adults are unscreened in Colorado and many of these individuals draw from communities that are typically underserved. In 2018, screening rates lagged among Hispanics, people aged 50-64, people living within 250 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and those living in rural areas. CDPHE intends to address these health inequities by focusing its efforts on populations most at risk and targeting the clinics serving them. CDPHE has successfully formed partnerships with clinics serving high need populations across Colorado to implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that elevate screening rates using a quality improvement approach. CDPHE will build on past successes by working with diverse partners to institutionalize EBIs and practice transformation efforts in focused clinical settings. CDPHE will collaborate with internal and external partners over the next five years to reduce clinical barriers to accessing and completing an initial and follow-up CRC screening. Internal partners include Colorado’s CDC-funded Comprehensive Cancer, National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and National Program of Cancer Registries, as well as the Clinic Quality Improvement Program and the Chronic Disease Evaluation and Epidemiology Program. External partners include the American Cancer Society, Colorado Cancer Coalition, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Colorado Community Health Network, Colorado Community Managed Care Network, and Health Literacy Connections. CDPHE is committed to reducing colorectal cancer-related health inequities by increasing CRC screening rates through implementation of six strategies: 1) Establish partnerships with health systems/primary care clinics, 2) Establish partnerships to support implementation of EBIs, 3) Conduct implementation and readiness assessments of partner primary care clinics, 4) Implement EBIs, 5) Facilitate patient linkages to follow-up colonoscopy, and 6) Data Quality and evaluation. CDPHE is confident its strategy implementation approach will produce sustainable transformation efforts in clinics that increase colorectal cancer screening rates in populations with the greatest health disparities, those with limited access to care, and populations that have a high incidence of late-stage disease.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
